Let’s Start Reading: Comprehension

To become a skilled reader, one needs to combine comprehension and word recognition, as seen below in Scarborough’s Reading Rope. A lot of early literacy is focused on decoding, phonics, and sight words. But often we overlook comprehension and how to build comprehension and fluency skills. 

The best way to have strong comprehension skills is to have solid background knowledge. This means introducing children to a variety of subjects and topics. You can do this by 

• Reading widely about many different interests.     
  • Try pairing nonfiction books with fiction books to expand on topics your child shows an interest in. 
  • You can also check out KCPL’s database Bookflix which provides fiction and nonfiction pairings and activities  
• Building vocabulary

Here are additional activities you can do when reading with your child to help with making connections with what is being read: 

• Prediction    
  • Before beginning a new book, start by talking about the cover. Read the synopsis. Ask your child what they think will happen based on these things.  
  • These questions will get your child thinking and let them know what to pay attention to within a book or story.
• Summarizing/Retelling    
  • After reading a story, go through the following questions:    
    • Somebody: Who is the main character? (Or for younger kids, ask who the story is about) 
    • Wanted: What did the main character want? 
    • But: What was the problem?
    • So: How was the problem solved? 
    • Then: How did the story end? 
• Inference    
  • Ask questions halfway through the story - How is this character feeling? Where is this character going? What do you think is going to happen? 
  • Use clues in the text and pictures to talk about what is happening in the story 
• Make Connections    
  • Ask your child what they know about a topic or situation in the book you are reading. Talk through the information they already know. 
• Read books! 

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For more early literacy information, check out KCPL’s Early Literacy page and check out other blog posts about literacy.

Happy reading! 

Written by Lisa Clark, Youth Collection Librarian